Sanding device for motor vehicles



y 4, 1954 s. WEINER Y 2,677,563

SANDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. SAMUEL W/NE/?,

ATTORNEY y 4, 1954 s. WEINER 2,677,563

SANDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 15, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5/4 MUEL WE/NEE.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANDING. DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Samuel Weiner, Asbury Park, N. J.

Application August 15, 1949, Serial No. 110,405

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sanding device for motor vehicles.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an improved type of sanding device for motor vehicles whereby sand, salt or other material may be deposited upon an ice-covered road traveled by the motor vehicle, immediately in front of those of its wheels which are connected to braking means. It is well known that devices of this general character have. heretofore been patented, but none of these devices have, to applicants knowledge, performed satisfam torily under all normal and abnormal conditions which motor Vehicles encounter on the road. In freezing weather, the sand in some of these patented devices freezes to a stiff, unyielding mass, and when the sand is most urgently needed, it is not available for use. In other devices, there is no way of knowing whether or not sand is being dispensed when needed. On occasion these devices may be capable of dispensing only a small and insufficient quantity of sand, but there would be no way of advising the motor vehicle driver to that effect. He might, therefore, drive on in complete ignorance of the fact that his sanding device is not functioning to full or adequate capacity.

In still other devices of this general character, the means used to dispense the sand is not fully coordinated with the braking system of the motor vehicle. In these devices, a dangerous lag may take place between the time the brakes are applied and the time the sand reaches the icecovered road surface.

In the present invention, means is provided. for regulating the temperature in the sand contain" er thereby preventing freezing of the sand in extremely cold weather. A telltale signaling device is provided in the present invention, to put the driver of the motor vehicle on. notice as to Whether or not his sanding device actually dispenses a sufitcient quantity of sand. The sanding device herein claimed is closely correlated functionally with the braking system of the motor vehicle in which it is installed, and hence, application of the brakes causes a simultaneous actuation of the sanding device and a virtually instantaneous dispensing of the sand.

These features and advantages of the present sanding device are attained in the following manner: the sanding device is connected to the exhaust system of the engine to enable the ex haust gases to percolate through the sand and keep the temperature thereof at an above-freezing level. A signaling device such as an elec tric light bulb mounted in full view of the driver is connected to a valve in the sanding device in such manner that the circuit to said signaling device will be closed only when sand passes 2 through the valve. If the signaling device fails to operate, the driver will know that sand is not being dispensed. The main or dispensing valve in the sanding system connected to the brake pedal whereby application of the brakes causes instantaneous actuation of the sanding device.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a sanding device having the foregoing features and advantages in which a positive force is applied to the sand to dispense it in front of the wheels of the motor vehicle. In the prior art, great reliance is placed upon the force of gravity to eifect such dispensing of the sand. It has been ascertained that a more positive force is needed to properly and instantaneously dispense the sand. In the present invention, the exhaust gases are used for this purpose, in addition to the force of gravity which is also em ployed.

A preferred form of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle in which the sanding device herein claimed is installed.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of said sanding device including its entire pipeline system.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of the electrical system of the present device, showing how it is. installed in a motor vehicle and connected to the storage battery of said vehicle.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of said electrical system, shown in greater detail, and showing how said electrical system is connected to the valve system of said sanding device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view through one of the pipelines of the sanding device, showing a valve mounted therein and a switch which is actuated by the flow through said valve for operating the telltale signaling device situated near the driver of the motor vehiccle.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view through the main pipeline of the sanding device, showing its relation to the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle, and also showing the main valve of the sanding device which is disposed between the pipeline of the device and the exhaust pipe of the vehicle, said valve being shown in closed position.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6, showing the valve in partly open position.

Fig. 8 is another similar view showing the valve in fully open position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front view, partly broken away, and in section, of one of the sanddisnensing nozzles; and

Fig. 10 is a bottom view thereof.

The motor vehicle 29, shown in the drawing, is a conventional passenger car having fourwheel brakes. Four sand-dispensing nozzles 2| are accordingly provided, one in front of each wheel 22. In motor vehicles having two-wheel brakes, only two sand-dispensing nozzles are required and motor vehicles having a greater numher than four-wheel brakes should be provided with as many dispensing nozzles as they have brake-actuated wheels. The vehicle shown in the drawing should, therefore, be taken solely as illustrative of the different vehicles to which the present device may be applied. It should also be understood that frequently it is desirable to place sand immediately in front of those vehicle wheels which are used for steering purposes, irrespective of whether or not brakes are installed therein. Hence, the sand nozzles of the present device should be understood as being applicable to the wheels which steer the motor vehicle, as well as to the wheels which are connected to the braking system to stop thevehicle.

It will be noted that each nozzle 2! is somewhat fan-shaped or elongated transversely of the motor vehicle on which it is mounted. This shape is to insure a wider distribution of the sand covering the full width or tread of the tires. This shape is, of course, a preferred shape, and it may be found that other shapes will function substantially as well.

The four fan-shaped nozzles 2! are connected by means of conduits 25, 26, 2'! and 23 to V or fork-shaped conduits 29 and 30, respectively.

Conduit 29 communicates with another forkshaped conduit 29a and a curved duct or conduit 3! provides communication between the two forks 22a and 30. Fork 29a is connected by means of conduit 32, fork-shaped conduit 33 and conduit 34, to the sand box or hopper 35. A valve 36 controls the flow of sand from hopper to forkshaped conduit 33 through conduit 34. Forkshaped conduit 33 is connected by means of conduit 3? to another fork-shaped valve conduit 38. This latter conduit is connected to the exhaust pipe 39 of internal combustion engine 43, and it may be installed in said exhaust pipe between the manifold M of the engine and muffler 42.

Valve control member 43 controls the flow of exhaust gases through the exhaust pipe, and directs the flow either into the muiiler or into the sand conduit system above described.

Reference to Fig. 2 will disclose the fact that when valve control member 43 shuts ofi the fiow of exhaust gases from the manifold to the muffler, these gases are thereby directed into the forlzshaped conduit 33. The several positions of valve member 45 controlled by valve control :w.

member 43 may best be seen in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. In Fig. 6, valve member 45 is shown closed to the sand pipeline system and open to the muffler. Hence, all of the exhaust gases are directed into and through the mufiier, and none of these gases enter the pipeline system above described. In Fig. '7, however, the valve is open partly to the sand pipeline system and partly to the mufiler. Hence some of the exhaust gases are directed into the pipeline system of the sand device and some of them are directed into the muiiier. In Fig. 8, the valve is completely closed with respect to the mufiler and completely open with respect to the pipeline system of the sanding device.

Hence all of the exhaust gases are directed from the exhaust manifold-to the pipeline system above described.

If it should be assumed that valve 35, in conduit 34, is in open position, the sand is free to flow from hopper 35 to fork-shaped conduitas.

If it further be assumed that valve in forkshaped conduit 38 is in open position relative to the pipeline system of the sanding device, then it will be appreciated that the exhaust gases and the sand will meet in fork-shaped conduit 33. The gases will continue to move through forkshaped conduits 29a and 29 into conduits 25 and 26, and hence into and through the two nozzles 21 which are connected to said conduits 25 and 26. The gases will also flow through curved duct SI and fork-shaped conduit 30 into conduits 27 and 28, and thence into and through the two nozzles 2| which are mounted at the ends of conduits 27 and 28. As the gases thus pass through the pipeline system and into and through the nozzles connected thereto, they provide a suction force with respect to the sand which is free to flow through conduit 34 into fork-shaped conduit 33. The gases suck the sand out of the sand hopper through said conduit 34 and carry the sand through the pipeline system, to and through the four dispensing nozzles. It is in this manner that the exhaust gases are enabled to carr the sand to the ice-covered road in the areas immediately ahead of the motor vehicl wheels.

The electrical system controlling the valves above mentioned is best shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen in said figure, that a solenoid is connected by means of link 5! to valve 36 in conduit 34. The valve is shown in closed position in said view. A second solenoid 52 is connected by means of link 53 to valve control member 45. Here, too, the valve is shown in closed position. Solenoid 52 has two coils 52a and 52b, respectively. Coil 52a is a longer and stronger coil and coil 52b is a shorter, weaker coil. When longer coil 52a is energized, the stroke of its lunger or core 55 is a relatively long stroke, and when coil 52?) is energized, its stroke is a relatively short one. Hence, when it is desired to partly open valve 45, coil 52b is energized, and when it is desired to fully open said valve, coil 52a is energized. When neither coil is energized, a spring (not shown) urges valve 45 into its closed position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and said valve is held in said closed position until either of the two coils is energized.

The electrical diagram of the apparatus herein claimed is shown in Fig. 4. It will there be seen that a cable 50 grounds battery 62 of the motor vehicle. Conductor Bl connects the battery to one side of a normally open switch 69. and the opposite side of said switch is connected to the stop lights I! of said motor vehicle. Conductor 13 connects said stop light to the ground. Normally open switch 69 is controlled and actuated by brake pedal '10 so that when the pedal is depressed to decelerate the motor vehicle, said switch is closed and the stop light is energized. A manually controlled switch 15 is incorporated into conductor 8|. so that the circuit to the stop light may be kept open irrespective of the position of the brake pedal.

A second electric light bulb MI is connected by 1 means of conductor I02 to conductor 68, and by means of conductor I00 to normally open switch 95, 96, 91. The switch is connected by means of conductor 39 to another conductor 64, and said latter conductor is shown to be grounded. Electric light bulb ill! is a signal light which may be located on the dashboard of the motor vehicle to signal the operation of the apparatus herein described and claimed. More specifically, members and 91 of said last-mentioned switch constitute the terminals thereof, and member 96 constitutes a hinged flap which serves as a cross bar to bridge the two terminals. A tension spring 88 attached to flap 96 normally holds said flap in its dotted line position in conduit 34, as shown in Fig. 5, out of engagement with terminal 91. When sand 95 is caused to flow through conduit 34 by the apparatus of the present invention, flap 96 is forced downwardly against the action of spring 98 until it engages terminal 91 and thereby closes the circuit to signal bulb Illl.

Solenoid 50 controls the flow of sand through conduit 34 by means of its link connection with valve 36 in said conduit. When solenoid 50 is energized, said valve is caused to open and the sand is enabled to flow through said conduit. When the solenoid is de-energized, the valve is caused to close and further flow of the sand through the conduit is thereby prevented. Manually controlled switch 15a is provided to energize or de-energize solenoid 50. A conductor 15b connects switch 15a to conductor 6| and through said last-mentioned conductor to battery 62. Switch 15a is also connected by means of conductor 150 to conductor I02 above mentioned. Still another conductor 15d connects conductor I02 to solenoid 50 and a conductor 15c connects said solenoid to conductor 64 which is itself connected to the ground. Hence, it is that solenoid 59 may be energized by manually closing switch 15a.

Solenoid 50 may also be energized when brake pedal is is depressed. Switch 69, which is controlled and actuated by the brake pedal, is connected by means of conductors 68, I02 and 15d to solenoid 50 and said solenoid is grounded through conductors He and 64. Hence when the brake pedal is depressed, a circuit is closed to solenoid 59 and said solenoid is thereby energized.

Switches 75a and '69 also control solenoid 52. It will be recalled that solenoid 52 has a relatively long coil 52a and a relatively shortcoil 52b and that its plunger 55 is connected by means of link 53 to a valve 45 which controls the flow of exhaust gases against and through the same. Switch 15a is connected by means of conductors 75c, I02, 15d and 63 to long coil 52a and said long coil is grounded by means of conductor 54. It will be apparent, therefore, that when switch 75a is manually closed to energize solenoid as, it will also energize coil 52a of solenoid 52 and thereby cause valve 45 to move to its wide open position. Similarly, solenoid coil 52a is energized when brake pedal is depressed to close switch 69 and manually controlled switch a is open.

A conductor 81a connects manually operable switch member 66 to conductor Bl. A conductor 8| connects switch member 80 to solenoid coil 52b and a conductor Bib connects said solenoid coil to grounded conductor 64. Hence when switch members 66 and 80 are in engagement with each other and the switch is thereby closed, solenoid coil 52b will be energized. Valve member is now brought to its half open position, as indicated in Fig. 7, but solenoid remains de-energized. The hot exhaust gases are permitted to pass through the sand to prevent freezing. Its wide open position which is efiectuated by the energization of coil 52a is shown in Fig. 8.

It will be observed from the foregoing that it is not only solenoid 50 which controls the flow of sand through conduit 34. Solenoid 52 also assists in this regard, since it controls the flow of exhaust gases through said conduit.

The foregoing is descriptive of a preferred form of this invention, and it will be understood that modifications may be incorporated therein within the broad scope of the invention. For example, the electrical system shown in the drawing is merely illustrative of a great many electrical systems which may be used to energize the solenoids of the sanding device herein described. The signal light [0| is illustrative of signalling devices generally, and it is wholly immaterial whether an audible or a visible signal is provided in connection with the present device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A sanding device for motor vehicles, said device comprising a sand-containing hopper, a pipeline system connected to said hopper, sanddispensing nozzles connected to said pipeline a conduit interconnecting said pipeline system with the exhaust system of a motor vehicle engine, whereby the exhaust gases are directed into the pipeline system to selectively either suck the sand from the sand hopper and carry the sand to the dispensing nozzles, or merely to heat the pipeline system and sand hopper to prevent freezing, a solenoid-actuated valve in said pipeline system controlling the flow of sand therethrough and a solenoid-actuated valve in the conduit controlling the flow of gases therethrough, said latter solenoid having a longer coil and a shorter coil axially aligned in tandem, a common core for both said coils, means to energize simultaneously both said longer coil and the solenoid-actuated valve in the sand pipeline system, and means to energize only said shorter coil, to open only partially the valve in the exhaust gas conduit, to heat the pipe line system and sand hopper to prevent freezing thereof.

2. A sanding device for motor vehicles, said device comprising a sand-containing hopper, a pipeline system connected to said hopper, sanddispensing nozzles connected. to said pipe-line system, a source of heated gas under pressure, a conduit interconnecting said pipeline system with the said source whereby the gas under pressure is directed into the pipeline system to selectively suck the sand from the sand hopper and carry the sand to the dispensing nozzles, or merely to heat the pipeline system and said sand hopper to prevent freezing, a solenoid-actuated valve in said pipeline system controlling the flow of sand therethrough and a solenoid-actuated valve in the conduit controlling the flow of gases therethrough, said latter solenoid having a longer coil and a shorter coil axially aligned in tandem, a common core for both said coils, and means to energize simultaneously both said longer coil and the solenoid-actuated valve in the sand pipeline system, and means to energize only said shorter coil to open only partially the gas flow valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,354,570 Lamping et al. Oct. 5, 1920 1,541,159 MacCallum, Jr. June 9, 1925 1,797,898 Cook Mar. 24, 1931 1,850,795 Hoffmann -1 Mar. 22, 1932 2,004,859 Farley June 11, 1935 2,016,419 Elston Oct. 8, 1935 2,034,272 Schroeder Mar. 17, 1936 2,089,279 Loefiier Aug. 10, 1937 

